Simple Party Planning Tips
Despite the stress associated in planning and hosting parties, some people enjoy preparing parties. When you plan to host parties, there some things that need to be considered and taken into account to have a successful party. If you lack information and knowledge in party planning, read this article and follow the guidelines mentioned below.
No matter how big or small the party you hosted, gourmet dishes, desserts and finger foods served during the event are among the things that determines the overall success of parties.
Most often, guests gauge the success of parties not only on the quality of accommodation they received from host, but also entertainment given and the quality of foods served to them.
If you have limited budget and intend to cook foods yourself, then you must have basic cook ware and quality cooking utensils in your kitchen. They are needed in producing quality and sumptuous foods not only for parties, but also for meals served during dinners, breakfasts and lunch. There are menus or viands that need to be cooked on specific kitchen tools.
Suggested basic cooking ware for your kitchen:
- Measuring equipment such as measuring cups and spoons are needed in measuring ingredients. These kitchen gadgets come in different sizes and are sold in stores.
- Knives — it is needed in cutting and slicing ingredients. It comes in different sizes and types like bread knife, serrated knife and steak knife.
- Bowls – it is needed in mixing dry and wet ingredients, storing foods and cooking. It also comes in different sizes and shapes.
- Basic tools like electric can openers, spoons, whisks, pots and spatula. These are basic tools needed in cooking.
- Pots and Pans – These are needed in cooking soups, viand and other menu.
- Checklist. When planning for your party, take into consideration the 5Ws, like who, what, where, when and why. When you considered all these things, you can move to details of planning for the party.
- Budget. Before organizing a party, you must consider first your finances. Evaluate how much money you can allocate for the event.
- Guest List. You must list all the individuals you like to invite.
- Theme. Select what type of theme you like to have, such as masquerade, cowboy, fairytale or superheroes.
- Venue. Choose a location that is associated with the theme chosen and the number of guests invited.
- Time. Select the convenient time to hold the party. Choose one that is convenient to both the host and guests.
- Food. Choose foods within the reach of your budget. Select a menu related to the theme of the event. Avoid preparing foods that can be cause of allergy to the guests.
- Entertainment. You can hire DJs, music bands, magicians or clowns.
- Games. Most often games are associated with children’s parties.
- Transportation. Some hostesses or organizers that provide transportation facilities to their guest.
- Invitations. If your budget permits, send invitations to your guests. When sending invitations, always ask for RSVP on these invitations to help you with the reservation, seating arrangements, budget and food.
Article By Serina Camp |
New Year’s Party Planning Tips
New Year’s is the time when many say goodbye to the year that has passed and welcome the New Year ahead. This is the time for parties and various celebrations where everyone does their own thing to ring in the New Year.
f you are planning a New Year’s party, it is important that you plan ahead so that you can enjoy along with all your guests. Here are some New Year’s party planning tips and ideas to help you plan the best party of the year.
Make A Checklist
Having a New Year’s party planning checklist is a must to keep you organized and prevent you from forgetting anything. This should be the first thing to do when planning, which should include your guest list, food, decorations, etc.
Budget
Make sure to set a budget so you know how much you have to spend for invitations, food, drinks, gifts, and other items needed.
Send Out Invitations Early
Everyone wants to throw a New Year’s Eve party so it is important that you get your invites out as early as possible so that your friends will know that the party this year is at your house.
Get Help
Once you have a list of everything that has to be done, start delegating. Certainly doing everything yourself is too much work so get some of your friends to help out with certain things like decorations, music, etc.
Decorations
You can keep your holiday decorations and simply add streamers, balloons, party hats and fun noisemakers that can be used during the countdown.
Food
You can’t have a party without food, and when it comes to New Year’s Eve parties, it is best to stick to finger food that your guests will enjoy. Have a buffet table set up with a variety of food such as a cheese and cracker tray, mini quiches, cold cut platter, mini sandwiches, chicken fingers, fish fingers, and of course a range of sweet treats and snack-size cheesecakes for dessert.
Drinks
A must-have for a New Year’s Eve party is alcohol. Set-up a bar and stock it up with wine, beer, and a variety of cocktail mixes. If the budget allows, hire a bartender for the night to keep the bar organized.
Music
Music is a great way to keep the party alive. If you have a DJ friend, then perfect! If not, you can choose to hire a DJ along with all the music equipment needed to keep the party pumping.
Gifts
Don’t forget to give your guests a small gift to remind them of the great night they had. You can easily give out something they will appreciate like fruits or mini cheesecakes that you can order and buy online with delivery right to your door. It is the perfect festive gift that doesn’t require much effort.
All you need to planning the perfect New Year’s Eve party is right here. Make sure to make use of these helpful tips and ideas to make party planning easier for you. Also, remember to have confetti and noisemakers for all your guests when the clock strikes midnight!
| Article By Jay Wesley @ Cheesecake.com |
What To Look For When Choosing A Wedding Venue
There are plenty of factors that go into the preparation of a big wedding ceremony. Actually, several key events – like an engagement party, a bridal shower or a rehearsal dinner – tend to be quite large, and may be a huge task for either the maid of honor or the groom’s family. Frequently, relatives and friends overlook the fact that local banquet halls and reception sites are excellent locations to hold engagement parties and bridal and rehearsal dinners.
Traditional wedding etiquette says that the maid of honor acts as a kind of committee chair for the other bridesmaids, and that at least one of the bridal showers should be organized and hosted by this group. Expenses are usually split among the maids; if their budget allows, they may choose to forget about the cleaning, cooking and decorating that a home-based shower calls for, and leave the work to professional event coordinators. A typical bridal shower can be a luncheon, champagne brunch or a tea with light snacks. If it fits the budget, utilizing all-inclusive banquet rooms or event planning services will relieve everyone from stress, as there are many other things to focus on when the big day is approaching.
Rehearsal dinners are traditionally hosted by the groom’s family. In most cases this event will include the entire wedding party, the bride and groom’s immediate family, the person who will be conducting the ceremony (and his or her spouse), and any out-of-town guests. This could be quite a big task, depending on the amount of guests and the size of the wedding.
Venues such as larger restaurants, hotels, private clubs and meeting rooms at local attractions such as a zoo or historical landmark all offer appropriate banquet rooms for these kinds of occasions. They can often accommodate small groups for intimate gatherings or much larger parties numbering 100 or more guests. The benefit of renting a banquet hall is the fact that all the staff and the entire space are entirely dedicated to you – this is an especially exciting option if you have a lot of guests.
Banquet halls frequently offer full use of expert event planners, who can assist in the formation of a theme, menu design and itinerary. With the staff of the facility, you need not worry about set-up, and they are able to provide cash bars, catering, wait staff, entertainment, and of course, clean-up as well. This takes the burden of putting together these events off the shoulders of already busy families and friends. There is also the advantage of having an enjoyable and efficiently run event for all your guests – a complete package of memorable celebration for all involved.
So, if the thought of hosting a shower or rehearsal dinner in your home has you running in frantic circles – consider running to a banquet hall instead.
If you’re looking for premiere banquet rooms in Chicago, online marketing specialist Stephen Daniels suggests European Chalet Banquets. With gourmet food, personal planning services and decadent European-styled spaces, they strive to provide the best venue for you and your guests.
Wedding Speeches – Tips For The Best Man
Traditionally, of all the wedding speeches, the best man speech is the funny one. This makes it a bit easier to write because you can have some fun with the groom and the audience will enjoy that. It helps to lighten up the day and set the tone for the rest of the celebrations. It should be done in a light way, where everyone present can enjoy the stories and the jokes. It should be obvious to the audience that you have a high regard for the groom and you are expressing this in a light way. However, you should be serious and sincere when you are wishing your friend and his bride every happiness.
The first step it to start getting some notes together. You will have some funny stories about the things you have done together. Try to avoid stories that will embarrass anyone. Stories that show the groom’s character traits are good. Tell some stories involving his relationship with the bride. If you need more material, do some research with the family. If you have a long friendship you will probably know as much as they do. If you have a long, close friendship most people will know that and you can get away with a friendly banter type of speech. Your audience will know this is your way of showing the high regard you have for your friend.
When you have done your homework and gathered the material you need, write your speech. The most important step in any speech is its preparation. If you spend the time on your best man speech you will do well. If you spend the time on it you are less likely to stumble or to mess it up. This does not do anybody any good – you will be disappointed, the bride and groom will be disappointed, but forgiving, and your audience will be polite but disappointed. No one expects you to be a great orator but they should be able to expect you to have prepared well. After all, this is your best friend or your brother or someone close and you agreed to give a wedding speech.
There are some steps you can take to make sure you are well prepared on the day. Have your speech handy so you can refer to it, but be careful not to read from it all the time. Limit your drinking until after your speech. It would be a pity to waste all the research and speech writing by not staying sober and maybe causing some embarrassment. To help with nervousness, take some deep slow breaths a minute or two before you get up to speak.
When you stand to speak, pause for a moment and look around the room. This will help you get your thoughts together and to calm you nerves. If you follow some of these tips your best man speech should be a lot of fun and add to a happy occasion that everyone will remember with pleasure.
Good luck!
Choosing Your Wedding Attendants
Arranging a wedding party is a huge responsibility. This responsibility can be handled properly only by sharing the work with family and friends. Some people are fun lovers while others are responsible. Not everyone can handle a responsibility properly. Hence we need to choose the wedding attendants carefully.
Share Your Special Day With The Right People...
Wedding attendants include: the Maid of Honor, the Best Man, the Bridesmaids, the Groomsmen, the Flower Girl and the Ring Bearer. For managing the show well, one needs a pair of attendant for every 35-50 guests. Though it is not fixed, each of attendants is expected to take care of certain responsibilities. Let’s see the various responsibilities linked to each attendant traditionally.
Maid of Honor
The maid of honor can be a special friend who helps in finding the wonderful wedding dress, keeping the group of bridesmaid on time and help you through the jitters of wedding on the wedding day. She may also be willing to help the bride do the wedding related shopping, writing the details in the invitations, putting labels on seating cards, planning for Bachelorette party and wedding shower, take care of minor details of dressing on the wedding day and put her signature on your marriage certificate.
All these can either be performed by a sister, a cousin or a very close friend who is willing to take up the responsibility.
Best Man
Best Man does similar work for groom as the maid of honor does for the bride. He plans for the Bachelorette party, helps you reach the church on time, counsels the groom through the wedding, helps in finding the perfect wedding suit etc. Best man can be your brother or a friend who matters to you and is happy to do the duty.
Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids are the group of girls who can take up the responsibilities and at the same time add fun to the environment. They should be willing to buy matching dresses as per your choice. They should keep a track of wedding shower gifts, help with the ceremony rehearsal, and plan for shuttling guests who are coming via air. Bridesmaids can be chosen from sisters, cousins, close friends as well as groom’s sisters.
Groomsmen
Male siblings from bride’s as well as the groom’s side, cousins and friends can be the groomsmen. They should be willing to rent a tuxedo, assist the best man to plan for the Bachelor party, come to the wedding venue before time and greet the guests, decoration of getaway car and dance with the bridesmaids.
The Flower Girl and the Ring Bearer
These two child attendants are chosen from family. They can also be children of close friends. The Flower Girl carries a basket of flowers till the aisle on the wedding time while the Ring Bearer carries a pillow which has the original or replicas of the wedding ring for the bride. The children chosen for this kind of responsibilities are usually above four years of age.
The group of attendants helps in making the occasion special for the bride, the groom, the family on both the sides as well as the guests. When all of them do their work well, a wedding ceremony becomes memorable for all.
This article was kindly contributed by Avital , a Chicagoland limo company. Avital limousine is the premier Chicago hummer limo company.
10 Best Karaoke Songs To Sing
Karaoke symbolizes a freedom that hardly any other activities in the field of entertainment can. It offers people the courage to come up in front of an unknown audience to sing songs even in the face of potential shame.
The selection of music for most karaoke sessions relies on the type of audience you have. The majority of people favor a pop or rock song, whilst others decide on country music. Even a few groups are brave enough to hold opera karaoke sessions. Karaoke CDs are available in all these ranges, and therefore it is very difficult to identify a list of the top 10-karaoke songs. Some people may think it is the best songs, and other might think it is absolute trash.
On the other hand, when you play music for a big audience, it is vital that you cater for everyone’s tastes. Otherwise, the crowd will be bored in a matter of minutes. Usually the fast contemporary tracks are a huge hit at any party. Ideally, though there should be a blend of tempos for the best entertainment. You should also have an equal allocation for male and female solos and duos. If your crowd likes to sing, you must have songs that let the superior singers show off their voices. Also, have some songs for those that are not so good, and have to keep up appearances.
The top-10 karaoke songs to sing are based on the accepted view and requests made at karaoke bars all over the world. What will follow below is a list of the 10 best karaoke songs to sing.
1. Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams
2. Hotel California by the Eagles
3. What a wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
4. Imagine by John Lennon
5. Girls just wanna have fun by Cindy Lauper
6. I will survive by Diana King.
7. Jailhouse Rock by Elvis
8. Man, I feel like a woman by Shania Twain.
9. Summer Love by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John
10. A whole new world by Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion
There are more songs that you may not have at your karaoke event, but is worth putting in. In the end, it is up to you to read your audience and select the right music for the evening.
Some songs might not have made the top 10 list, but they are also very popular at most karaoke events. Take “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. Some might see it as clichéd, but most crowds just love to sing with the “bah bah bahs”. This ensures that it remains a very popular karaoke song. One well-known song for singing along with is “Livin on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. People just love to join in at the “whoaaa-ohhhhh, livin’ on a prayer” part. Although well worn in, these songs are still must haves at every karaoke event.
It is also a good idea to throw in some songs that are favorites amongst the girls and favorites amongst the boys. This will get everyone involved in your karaoke evening.
Choosing A Wedding Venue (From A Lips Of A DJ)
So, you’ve read the “how to choose the perfect wedding venue” articles posted on the web, published in the bridal magazines and you’re wondering what the heck it’s doing on a DJ Hire site… Well consider this, who attends more weddings in a year than your maid of honour, and who gets to leave the wedding venue with the last of the wedding guests (keeping in mind that the wedding photographer only stays until the bouquet and garter has been thrown)?
In other words who really gets to know the ins and outs of choosing a wedding venue to have a decent party at?
There are loads of things to consider when choosing a wedding venue. First there are the obvious ones: How many guests can it accommodate; does it have sufficient parking; is it safe; what’s the food like; are there electrical outlets for the DJ’s, band; etc.
But what about the party? I mean the ceremony, while it is the essence of the wedding, only lasts 30 to 45 minutes, while the reception can keep going for anything between 4 to 8 hours, and it is in this time that your guests will want to be entertained. And honestly, the jazz band only plays for so long! This is where I come in. You see, I’ve been a DJ for 13 years now. My speciality: weddings. And I’ve seen my share, trust me!
So what should you be looking at when you choose a wedding venue, to not only make sure that the wedding is unique, stunning, elegant, but also a wedding that your guests will talk about for years to come?
Let’s start with the basics: there’s a good chance that 50% of your guests will be smokers, so the venue must have a facility for smokers. Now usually this is done outside, which works fine, but what happens when it rains? Can they cater for this, or will the smokers just leave early? I mean let’s face it, smokers don’t party unless they have a cigarette in hand…
Secondly, what do they have planned for the kids? I know that some couples specifically request their guests to not bring kids along, but hey, if that were you, would you want to leave your kids at home? How about booking a smaller venue (or a room) for the kids and arranging alternative entertainment for them, together with a qualified child minder? Did you know that there are entertainment companies out there that provide these services? This prevents anyone getting hurt on the dance floor and the kids will have a ball! Remember that weddings are a time for friends and family to get together…
Did you know that if you choose a venue in a residential area you’ll be restricted in terms of the music on the night? So instead of the rocking party you expected, you’ll be having a toned down affair with guests nagging you (and your DJ) to turn up the tunes. Now you might not have thought about this, and the venue probably neglected to mention this, but as they are in a residential area, they are not allowed to play loud music, especially not after 22h00 at night. And as a DJ we are obliged to stick to that rule, or we might be kicked out. Usually your party will also end strictly at 00h00, so no overtime here…
While a wedding in the country or in outlying areas are a better choice in terms of the music, you have to consider that your guests might have been drinking the whole evening and some of them will be driving home afterwards. A good idea might be to have the telephone numbers of cab companies handy for those guests who have had one drink too many, after all you wouldn’t want your guests to remember your wedding as the night they spent in jail…
Finally, always keep in mind that your entertainment for the evening will be one of the most important choices you’ll make. Should you decide to go with a DJ, always ensure that they are registered with both SAMRO and SADJA (the South African Music Rights Organisation and the South African DJ Association). This will prevent embarrassment during the evening and also ensure that you get quality entertainment – All Night Long! (For more on SAMRO and SADJA please visit their respective websites).
By Jacky Dannhauser
The Best & Worst Karaoke Songs For Women
I recently frequented a karaoke night. The night got off to a great start with some serious contenders, all hoping to take home the, apparently, coveted title of karaoke queen. A good few laughs, a couple of off-key notes and a great time certainly had by all. What became very apparent was that women love to sing.
It is incredibly difficult to determine which songs are best and worst when it comes to karaoke selections. Song selections will naturally vary between countries. Based on the number of times the following songs came up in this area, I have compiled a Top 4 best and worst karaoke songlist, accordingly. I leave the 5th one for you to fill in.
- 1. Complicated – Avril Lavigne You don’t have to be 16 year old “skater chick” to sing this song. Easy and uncomplicated with a great beat and simple lyrics, you’ll have the crowd singing along.
- 2. Dancing Queen – Abba “You can dance, You can jive, Having the time of your life…” Somewhere deep inside all of us, Abba lives on.
- 3. That Don’t Impress Me Much - Shania Twain Plenty of opportunity to strut your stuff, this song proved to be quite the favourite. Simple lyrics, catchy tune and Bob’s your Uncle – you might just walk away as the ultimate karaoke queen.
- 4. Black Velvet- Alannah Myles Leather trousers or not; deep, sexy, sultry and with a good beat, you cannot go far wrong. This is one of those songs that even after hearing for the 10th time that evening, you could probably still listen to again. And maybe even again.
There are always two sides to every coin. The following songs are definite no-no’s and should only ever be sung at home in the shower or driving alone in your car, if at all, but preferably never. The surest way to make even the most die-hard, misunderstood karaoke groupie leave the bar is to sing any of these:
- 1. Wind beneath my wings – Bette Midler
Unless you are Bette Midler herself, do not even attempt to sing this song. You might just be responsible for someone’s blood on your hands.
- 2. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
You will NOT survive. Trust me. Rotten tomatoes, boo-ing and a guaranteed trip back to the bar at some later time, to collect the name you threw away, are a definite.
- 3. I Touch Myself – The Divinyls
Oh dear. Think 1 tequila, 2 tequila, 3 tequila floor; next time you look, they’ll all be out the door.
- 4. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Even if you are on the prowl for your own personal bodyguard, this song just isn’t going to get you the sympathy you crave. Give it a very broad miss.
For karaoke hire and karaoke machines, visit www.djentertainment.co.za
The 10-Step Party Planning Guide
Hi Everyone…
We’ve just released a 10-step party planning guide, available on the jukebox and karaoke hire pages of the website. Here’s a “soft copy” FYI…
Whether you’re inviting the entire neighbourhood for cocktails, celebrating your child’s birthday or planning a fete for 50, throwing a great party requires panache and lots of planning. As the host, your task is to create a mood – relaxed, elegant, festive or wild – that carries through every aspect of the party. Here are 10 easy steps to follow to ensure that you cover the most important bases.
Step 1
Find a reason to celebrate. Whether it’s a holiday, a special occasion, an achievement, a big announcement, a new endeavour, a job well done or a journey completed, the reason you’re partying will set the tone. If you’re reading this, chances are, you already have a reason – so step 1 is complete!
Step 2
Pick a date that allows ample preparation time. Consider catering, decorating and entertaining needs when choosing the date. Also keep in mind public holidays (as many people go away over the long weekends), as well as any major sporting events on the date. A rugby final on the same date as your party could see your RSVP figures taking a dive…
Step 3
Decide on a guest list. Take into account the size of your dining table, party area or rented venue. For cocktail parties, you’ll need 4 to 5 square feet of space per person. Expect 70 to 80 percent of invited guests to show up for a large event. Don’t feel obliged to invite anyone who is a “maybe” on the guest list – inviting party poopers or people you don’t really socialize with is waste of your catering money…
Step 4
Spread the word with flair: Invites that reinforce your theme add an exciting buzz. For example, attach potluck invites to inexpensive potholders if guests are expected to bring a dish. Specify the dress code (if there is one). You can also use electronic invites such as email or e-cards. It would however be good practice to just confirm receipt with everyone as spam filters can often get between you and your guests…
Step 5
Determine the party’s tone and style (celebratory, elegant, themed). Keep in mind the time of year (also whether it’s indoors or outdoors), what you’re celebrating and how formal or casual you’d like it to be. If you’re planning some sort of dress-up, don’t expect everyone to play along – there will always be those who don’t put in the effort.
Step 6
Plan your menu a week in advance. Consider flavours and combinations that reinforce your theme. What you serve is almost always determined by what’s in season. If you are hiring a catering company, plan and confirm this element early in the planning process to ensure that they have availability, etc.
Step 7
Consider serving beer and wine, plus one cocktail you can premix in batches, such as margaritas or sangria. This will usually keep everyone happy. If you are concerned, advise your guests to let you know of any special “liquid preferences” when they RSVP. Hire a bartender if your group is larger than 30 and you’re serving cocktails, wine and beer. Three to four drinks per person for a two- to three hour party are standard – but you know your guest list better than anyone – make sure you don’t under cater for a “thirsty” crowd!
Step 8
Spread out the food and drinks so there’s a smooth flow to your party. If you don’t want people in the kitchen, direct the traffic to other rooms – an outdoor bar, for example, or put most of the food in the living room. Hire servers to pass hors d’oeuvres. If you’re organizing entertainment (be it a DJ, jukebox or karaoke), ensure that the dance floor or entertainment area is away from the food (food plus dancing don’t work too well together and usually end up in a mess!)
Step 9
Buy a few metres of colourful silk or other bright, textured fabric. Use it as a table runner or wrap it around the middle of the table for a splash of colour. If you are utilizing the services of an entertainment company, enquire about hiring ambient or disco lighting. Some extra lighting can really add to the ambience of the evening and needn’t cost the earth!
Step 10
Enjoy yourself and your guests. Fun is contagious: Relax, pour yourself a drink, eat – and have a good time. Guests often look to the host to gauge how “relaxed” they can be – don’t run around like a mad thing on the night trying to fix everything – most “crises” aren’t even noticed by your guests if they are having fun!
Adapted From eHow.com’s “How To Plan A Party”.
